KARAPATAN scores weaponization of terror laws vs NDFP consultant, Ilocano dev’t workers

Karapatan condemns the weaponization of anti-terror laws in the latest spate of attacks against activists, development workers and peace advocates in the Ilocos region.

On October 21, 2024, Simeon “Ka Filiw” Naogsan was arrested in a raid by joint military and police elements on the house he was staying in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte. The 70-year old Naogsan, a consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and spokesperson of the Cordillera Peoples Democratic Front (CPDF), was among those arbitrarily designated a “terrorist individual” by the Anti-Terrorism Council in June 2022.

Naogsan faces a string of trumped-up murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder charges in Ifugao and Mountain Province. He is currently detained at the Laoag City police station. His arrest and detention are violations of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and run contrary to efforts to attain just and lasting peace for the country.

Naogsan’s family fears for his health and welfare since he suffers from uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and osteoarthritis. As an elderly individual facing several serious health issues, Naogsan should have been afforded his rights under International Humanitarian Law.

In another development, long-time development worker Lenville Salvador received a subpoena on October 17, 2024 from the Department of Justice to answer trumped up charges for alleged violation of the terrorist financing law. Salvador has long served as a development worker in the Ilocos region until his retirement in 2023. He was the founding chairman of the board of the Ilocos Center for Research, Empowerment and Development (ICREd) and was also part of the Katinnulong Daguiti Umili iti Amianan (KADUAMI-Northern Luzon). He survived martial law and an assassination attempt in 2006 under the Arroyo regime. He was harassed and placed under surveillance by military and police agents during the COVID pandemic.

Accused with Salvador is fellow development worker Petronila Guzman. Guzman has been with KADUAMI since 1994 until her retirement in 2022 as a senior member of the organization’s management committee. She currently sits on KADUAMI’s board of trustees.

Karapatan condemns the Marcos Jr. regime for its continuing weaponization of anti-terrorism laws to criminalize development work among poor and marginalized communities and vilify freedom fighters who struggle to create the social, political and economic foundations of just and lasting peace in the country. It demands the junking of the trumped-up anti-terrorist financing charges against Salvador and Guzman; the immediate release of peace consultant Simeon Naogsan and the dropping of all bogus charges against him.